Reminder! Minnie’s Halloween Dine Now at Hollywood & Vine: Minnie Mouse is inviting all of her friends to join her

at Hollywood & Vine beginning Sept. 12. This character dining experience features Minnie Mouse and friends dressed for a festive Halloween celebration. Reservations are now open, and can be made by visiting DisneyWorld.com/dine or by calling 407- WDW-DINE.

Walt Disney World Resort – General

as an entertainment experience starting on October 3. Future plans for the area will include a new family-friendly

attraction opening this spring that will take Guests on a white-water adventure. All of the animals at Shark Reef will be

relocated to other facilities where they will continue to receive proper care.

New! Now Open at Disney Springs: Luxury of Time by Diamonds International: Luxury of Time by Diamonds

International, an industry leader of fine timepieces and jewelry in the Caribbean, Alaska and Mexico, is now open at

Disney Springs.

Luxury of Time, a boutique developed exclusively for Disney Springs, features some of the world’s most prominent designer

watch brands including Breitling, Hublot, Ulysse Nardin, Tag Heuer, Mont Blanc and others. The new store also offers a large collection of fine diamond and tanzanite jewelry, including the Diamonds International- exclusive Crown of Light Diamond and Safi Kilima Tanzanite.

New! Night of Joy at Walt Disney World Resort Announces 2017 Dates: Walt Disney World just finished the

34th Night of Joy and this year’s event brought the best names in Contemporary Christian music to ESPN Wide World of

Sports Complex for the first time. The dates for next year’s event are Sept. 8 and 9, 2017. Night of Joy will back again at

The ESPN Complex next year as well.

Merchandise Events

September 30 – Guests can meet representatives from Kit Heath at The Queen’s Table in the United Kingdom Pavilion at World Showcase from 12 noon to 7:00 p.m.

Closures and Refurbishments

Click here to view the latest renovations and closures at Walt Disney World Resort

Over in The Landing neighborhood of Disney Springs, new seasonal ganache flavors are now available at The Ganachery, Pumpkin Spice Latte and Cinnamon Apple. Additional new flavors such as Classic Milk Chocolate, Dark Chocolate Coconut, and Creamy Peanut Butter ganache are also available.

New! Coca-Cola Polar Bear Coming to Disney Springs: A new interactive meet and greet experience will soon debut at the Coca-Cola Store, located in Town Center, the newest Disney Springs neighborhood. Guests will be able to visit the 7-foot-tall Coca-Cola Polar Bear in his home on the second level of the Coca-Cola Store where he will be sharing plenty of bear hugs, high fives and fun photo moments! There’s lots of Polar Bear themed-merchandise to take home with you, too.

Merchandise Events

Disney Springs

September 22-25 – Guests can meet artist William Silvers in The Art of Disney from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day.

Epcot

September 21-25 – Learn more about fragrances and cosmetics by Givenchy in the Plume et Palette shop at France Pavilion in World Showcase.

New! Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Merchandise: Artwork for this year’s event merchandise was created by Disney Design Group. The team created new designs for popular merchandise programs such as “Brews Around the World,” and “Taste Your Way Around the World. ” Remy’s Ratatouille Hide & Squeak will also return for another year.

Closures and Refurbishments

Click hereto view the latest renovations and closures at Walt Disney World Resort.

What’s New This Week?

Walt Disney World Theme Parks

New!Specialty Treats Materialize During Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: Here’s a look at the creepy confections you can expect to find at this year’s party.

Main Street Bakery

Chocolate Worms and Dirt Cupcake

Vanilla Spider Cupcake

Halloween Sugar Cookie

Plaza Ice Cream Parlor

Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich

Gaston’s Tavern

Enchanted Pumpkin Spiced Cupcake

Storybook Treats

Candy Corn Ice Cream Cone

The Friar’s Nook

Ghoulish Strawberry-lemonade Slushy

Throughout the Park

Candy Corn Cotton Candy

Vampire Mickey Popcorn Bucket

Halloween Popcorn Bucket

Halloween Hot Mug

Poison Apple Stein

New! Special PhotoPass Shots at Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: During each party, Disney PhotoPass offers special themed photo stops in select locations that you won’t want to miss. Visit the Disney PhotoPass photographer at the Main Entrance of Magic Kingdom Park to get a party-exclusive shot with the Headless Horseman. A Grim Grinning Ghost comes out to socialize at the hearse in front of the Haunted Mansion. An adorable pumpkin patch welcomes guests to the park entrance during this time of year. A Disney PhotoPass Photographer is ready and waiting in Town Square to help you get a shot with Haunted Mansion gravediggers. The spooks are coming out for a swinging wake! Visit a Disney PhotoPass Photographer on Main Street, U.S.A. for a ghoulish delight with waltzing ghosts.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

New! New Chicks at Kilimanjaro Safaris: Two young pink-backed pelicans have hatched at Kilimanjaro Safaris. They are named for the light-pink color their backs turn during mating season. They nest in large groups and lay two to three eggs at a time. Hatching a pelican chick takes team work, and both parents incubate, or sit on, the eggs for around 30 days. It takes around 70-85 days after hatching for the chicks to fledge, or grow their feathers. As long as the nest remains intact, the pelicans will return to nest in the same nest year after year. You can see the pink-backed pelicans and their chicks on Kilimanjaro Safaris, on an island in the Safi River.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

New! New Animals at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: The red lechwe are the newest inhabitants ofDisney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Lechwe are distinguished by their long bodies and hindquarters that are higher than their shoulders. The red lechwe is a subspecies named for the reddish-brown color of their coats. As lechwe age, it is easier to detect the differences in males and females, as the males’ coats turn a darker color. The red lechwe can be found at Kidani Village at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, on the Pembe Savanna, which they share with red river hogs.

New! Menu Makeover at Garden View Tea Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian: Recently, Afternoon Tea at Garden View Tea Room received a menu makeover, and now features the largest selection of Twinings loose-leaf teas, all of which are exclusive to Walt Disney World Resort. The stars of the new tea menu are the Twinings Signature Blends – served exclusively in the United States at the Garden View Tea Room – whether you select Perfect Afternoon, Garden Party or After Dinner Mint, you can’t go wrong. Pure Black and Flavored Black Teas, Oolong, Green and White Teas and caffeine-free Herbal Infusions are also available. Teas are available in several ‘shires’ or packages, including The Bedfordshire Tea, The Derbyshire Tea, The Cheshire Tea, The Berkshire Tea and The Yorkshire Tea. Of course, there is a special tea available for guests age 3-9, Mrs. Potts includes tea sandwiches, a jam tart, delicate house-made pastries and a special ‘dark tea’ (chocolate milk).

Walt Disney World Resort – General

Update: Refillable Popcorn Offering Continues: Walt Disney World will continue to offer a refillable, souvenir popcorn bucket at through Oct. 31. Guests may purchase the bucket for $10 with refills available for $1.50 each throughout their length of stay. A new fall-themed bucket design will be introduced in early September. Guests must have the fall themed bucket in order to be eligible for a refill. This offering is available in Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs and ESPN Wide World of Sports.

New! Cirque du Soleil Schedule Changes: Now through Oct. 27, Cirque du Soleil La Nouba will adjust its show schedule on Thursdays, with one performance at 6 p.m. Additionally, there will be no performances of La Nouba Sept. 18-24.

New! Levi’s Now Open at Disney Springs: Now open near Amorette’s Patisserie, Levi’s offers the very best in denim and premium fabrics for the entire family. The new store features a tailor shop, exclusive to just a handful of Levi’s locations worldwide and their first in Florida, offering Guests custom services such as embroidery, tailoring, hemming, and repairs.

New! House of Blues at Disney Springs to Host Craft Beer Event: House of Blues Patio will become a haven for fans of Big Storm Brewery on Sunday, September 25, 2016. Taking place from 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., the event will feature Big Storm tastings and beer flights, with a live musician performing on the patio stage while you sip the day away. For full details on “Local Brews, Local Grooves,” visit http://www.houseofblues.com/orlando/localbrewslocalgrooves.

Merchandise Events

Disney Springs September 14-18 – Artist Greg McCullough returns to The Art of Disney in August. He will be meeting with guests and signing artwork from 1:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day. He will also be at the location from September 28 to October 2.

Epcot

September 14-18 – Guests can meet artist Larry Dotson in The Art of Disney in Future World from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day.

Closures and Refurbishments

Click here to view the latest renovations and closures at Walt Disney World Resort

What’s New This Week?

Around the Mouse: Walt Disney World News, Sept 5, 2016

Walt Disney World Theme Parks

Magic Kingdom Park

New! Fall Finale for ‘Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire’: Beginning September 2, the finale scene in “Mickey’s Royal Friendship Faire” will feature new costumes, décor and choreography. You’ll also hear an original song celebrating autumn, from the songwriting duo of Valerie Vigoda and Brendan Milburn who composed the show’s catchy tune “On This Day.”

New! Main Street Trolley Show Switches to Autumn Theme: Also starting this week is the special fall edition of the popular Main Street Trolley Show, greeting everyone along the avenue with a joyous song all about “the magic that can happen when it’s autumn.” So be sure to head on out to Magic Kingdom Park this fall and take in all the wonderful sights and sounds of the season!

Epcot

Reminder! Innoventions Changes Coming Soon: Starting September 14th, The Sum of All Thrills and StormStruck will no longer be available at Innoventions. Sponsorship agreements with Raytheon and FLASH have reached an end. No official announcements on what will replace them have been made yet. Guests will still be able to enjoy Colortopia by Glidden in Innoventions.

Disney’s Hollywood Studios

New! Club Villain Returns: On select nights September 2 through October 31, Disney’s Hollywood Studios will host Club Villain at Sunset Showcase.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom

New! New Menu Items at Pizzafari and Restaurantosaurus: Two of the quick service restaurants at Disney’s Animal Kingdom are serving up new dishes. Restaurantosaurus has added a Grilled Chicken BLT to the menu and Pizzafari added flatbreads and a fresh tomato-cucumber salad. These items debuted on Aug. 21. At Pizzafari, a trio of flatbreads – cheeseburger, Mediterranean, and pepperoni – will round out the existing menu of robust Italian-inspired dishes. The current side salad will change to the tomato-cucumber salad, including the side dish served along with the existing menu items shrimp flatbread, cheese pizza, and the baked pasta Bolognese. At Restaurantosaurus, the Grilled Chicken BLT Sandwich has replaced the former Grilled Chicken Sandwich. The reimagined entrée consists of a Brioche roll, grilled chicken breast, thick-cut hickory-smoked bacon, tomato, arugula, spicy ailoi, and toasted Parmesan crumbles.

New! Kali River Rapids EMH Continues: Kali River Rapids will continue to operate during morning Extra Magic Hours until DINOSAUR reopens from refurbishment on Oct. 17.

Walt Disney World Resort Hotels

New! ‘Ohana Dinner Hours Update: Effective Sunday, Sept. 4, ‘Ohana Dinner will be open from 4-10:30 p.m. daily for Guests to indulge in all-you-care-to-enjoy, Polynesian-style dishes. Also effective immediately, Tambu Lounge is open from 7:30 a.m.-midnight.

Walt Disney World Resort – General

New! Transportation to Disney Springs: To make it even easier to shop, dine and play at Disney Springs, Disney Resort Guests can now take a bus from any Walt Disney World theme park directly to Disney Springs after 4:00pm. This is a one-way service from the theme parks to Disney Springs. Bus service from the theme parks will be provided from 4:00pm until 11:00pm (or until two hours after park close, whichever is earlier). As always, buses are available from Disney Springs to take Disney Resort Guests back to their hotels.

New! New Delicious Disney Cookbook Features Sweet Treats: The new “Delicious Disney Sweet Treats” cookbook features 40 irresistible recipes from the pastry chefs at Walt Disney World Resort, Disneyland Resort, Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa andDisney Cruise Line. The book includes elegant sweets such as the madeleines from Chefs de France at the France pavilion at Epcot, the Warm Apple Butter Cake from Steakhouse 55 at the Disneyland hotel and the Mom’s Favorite Chocolate Peanut Butter Layer Cake from 50’s Prime Time Café at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.

Merchandise Updates

New! New Pins Coming to Disney Parks in Late Summer 2016: Guests will find several new limited edition pins during the next two months. For the Disney Duets collection, look for the Aladdin and Jafar pin in August, and the Ariel and Ursula pin in late September. The Disney Love Letter pin featuring Roger and Jessica Rabbit will be found in early September; the Mickey and Minnie Mouse pin will be released in late September. Guests will also find two new Piece of Disney History pins – Pirates of the Caribbean at Disneyland Resort and Dumbo The Flying Elephant at Walt Disney World Resort.

There is a new limited release mystery pin collection titled “Disney Grins” that is being released in September and open edition pins including one inspired by a logo for Disney Springs.

Fans of the Frozen Ever After attraction at Epcot will find four new open edition pins featuring Elsa, Anna and Olaf.

If you love Disney Villains, look for new pins including a “World of Evil” mystery pin set with artwork created by Jerrod Maruyama.

Merchandise Events

Disney Springs

September 7-11 – Artist David Doss returns to The Art of Disney at Disney Springs Marketplace. He will be meeting with guests and signing artwork from 1:00 p.m. to 9 p.m. each day.

September 8-26 –Representatives from Precious Moments will be showcasing their newest Precious Moments dolls at Marketplace Fun Finds in Disney Springs Marketplace.

September 1-5 – Guests can check out the latest Yardley fragrance and beauty products and meet representatives from 12 noon to 7:00 p.m., each day at The Queen’s Table in United Kingdom Pavilion. We will be offering bottle painting and personalization on September 14-18.

September 1-5 – Artist Greg McCullough returns to The Art of Disney in Future World. He will be meeting with guests and signing artwork from 1:00 p.m. to 8 p.m. each day.

Closures and Refurbishments

Click here to view the latest renovations and closures at Walt Disney World Resort.

Minnie Mouse has been hosting fun dinner parties throughout the year. So now her new Halloween Themed Dinner party arrives this month. What a fun way to make Magical Memories with the characters when they are dressed to impress in their fun Halloween Costumes. Halloween is such a fun time to be in Walt Disney World. On one of the nights you are not enjoying Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party you can now head on over to Hollywood & Vine dine with Minnie Mouse and her friends.

At Disney’s Hollywood Studios®, Minnie Mouse invites Guests to meet all of her friends at delightful dinner parties throughout the year to celebrate each season. And, from Sept. 12-Nov. 6, 2016 your Clients can enjoy a frightfully fun character experience during Minnie’s Halloween Dine at Hollywood & Vine. The cost is $46.99 per adult and $27.99 per child, plus tax and gratuity. Some dining plans are accepted.

Reservations can be made 180 days in advance by calling 407-WDW-DINE or from your My Disney Experience Account or your Disney Vacation Planner will be happy to make your dining reservations for FREE of charge as part of their extra services.

Written by Dawn Caitano – Dawn creates lasting memories by planning your customized vacations all over the world. Not only does she find the BEST accommodations with the BEST value, but she will fill in all the blanks for you, all at no cost to you. Traveling is her passion! Passing that magic on to your family is what fuels that passion! So call Dawn today to start your next Adventure.